Sunday 1st February 2009

Things seem to be in flux at the moment in the session world, fuelled by Beau's prognosis of no live music in pubs any more by 2012 based on his analysis of gigs from his excellent Kent Folk website. Just today, a fledgling session (The Parrot) has died due to change of management.

Now we have had a canter about what is and what is not a session on this blog before and opinions vary hugely according to geographical location, ethnicity of the music, type of venue and level of players.

Most session players agree on a few basic things.

1) Session musicians play in sessions for the love of the music and the fellowship and musicianship of other like-minded people.

2) The session is invited to play by the landlord as a mutual thing and it is not beholden on either to outstay their welcome.

3) There is no contract, no payment no expectation of entertainment beyond what happens spontaneously, no 'hidden agenda' of either bands getting bookings or landlords getting in punters. Complimentary drinks or food by an appreciative landlord are welcome but not necessarily expected.

Pubs are closing at an alarming rate. It is not the profitable industry it once was. Rents and business rates are increasing, the smoking ban has decimated the pub drinkers in certain types of pub. The entertainment and performing rights changes have made it more difficult but not impossible. Any landlords left are looking for ways to attract trade or at least to not drive it away. Sessions may not be helpful to the landlord's cause. If eaters bring in the money, the session has to go. That is understandable and nobody's fault.

Sessions - proper sessions can revert to people's kitchens or back rooms or anywhere else. As mentioned above,
'Session musicians play in sessions for the love of the music and the fellowship and musicianship of other like-minded people.' They don't necessarily need pubs.

Most sessioneers will have other outlets for their music - gigs, bands, barn dances, teaching etc and those are very different occasions. In a similar vein, Open Mic events, Folk Club floor spots et al are not places for 'the love of the music and the fellowship and musicianship of other like-minded people'

Sessions are something unique and specific and they are harder and harder to find. All we [sessioneers] want to do is sit down with some fellow musicians and play some tunes. Learn off each other, spark off each other, have a laugh and be moved by the music.